MPs laugh at Theresa May's claim that 'austerity is ending' during PMQs clash with Corbyn
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May's claim that "austerity is ending" was met with laughter by MPs as the prime minister clashed with Jeremy Corbyn at Prime Ministers Questions.
Condemning what he called a "broken promise Budget", the Labour leader demanded to know why the government had not pledged to end the benefit freeze.
That prompted confusion over Labour's own policy on the issue after a spokesman for Mr Corbyn said the party would not necessarily raise benefits in line with inflation, despite John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, having said it would.
The Tories were later engulfed by confusion of their own after Downing Street refused to endorse Brexit secretary Dominic Raab's suggestion that an agreement with the EU was likely to be in place by 21 November.
As Britain prepares to leave the EU, Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, announced plans to recruit 1,000 more diplomatic staff.
His predecessor, Boris Johnson, was also in the news after it emerged that he had accepted an all-expenses-paid trip to Saudi Arabia just two weeks before the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Follow the action in Westminster as it happened...
The SNP's Ian Blackford asks May to guarantee the supply of medicines in the case of a no-deal Brexit.
The prime minister says she is working for a good deal but that all departments are making contingency arrangements for a no-deal outcome.
Mr Blackford asks why the government has started a process of stockpiling medicines "at the cost of tens of millions of pounds. He says Ms May must "wake up to the real harm her Brexit policies could cause to patients".
He says the government is in a "blind panic trying to cover up for a blind Brexit".
Ms May says money for no-deal planning was made available last year and that government departments are making the "responsible contingency decisions that any government department would make".
Labour's Lilian Greenwood asks about the independent inquiry into historic sexual abuse. She says survivors need help now and calls for money to be made available to provide support and encourage others to come forward.
May says she will look into it.
Former cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell says the UK should use its UN security council position to push for an immediate ceasefire in Yemen.
Ms May says the UK "backs the US calls for de-escalation" but that a "nationwide ceasefire will only have an effect on the ground if it's unpinned by a political deal between the conflict parties".
Labour's Chris Ruane asks Theresa May why rough sleeping has increased by 286 per cent on her watch.
May says she recognises the need to take action and has published a strategy for this, including initial funding of £100m.
Former home secretary Amber Rudd asks about a business in her Hastings and Rye constituency that is worried about access to the single market after Brexit. She asks Theresa May to ensure that her Brexit plans include
"protecting investment and jobs all over the country",
May says "the plan we have set out is a plan that recognises the importance of protecting jobs in this country".
Streatham MP Chuka Umunna asks about the Black Cultural Archives in Lambeth. He says that, unlike national institutions such as the National Gallery and the British Museum, which get over 40 per cent of their funding from the government, the BCA currently receives none and is at threat of closure. He asks May to explain this "differential treatment" and to "right this wrong".
May says there is a difference between those considered to be national museums and other institutions. She says she will ask ministers to look into the matter.
Tory MP Philip Davies asks why government spending on aid will increase faster than investment in public services, saying "the vast majority of British people think that warped priority is crazy crackers".
May says it is right that the UK maintains its aid spending and continues to meet the 0.7 of GNI international target.
And with that, after 50 minutes, PMQs is over for another week.
Simon Hoare, a Conservative backbencher, raises a point of order about Ishmael Osamor, son of Labour frontbencher Kate Osamor.
Mr Osamor recently admitted being in possession of £2,500 worth of drugs at a music festival. He has a parliamentary pass because he works for his mother as a communications officer.
John Bercow says it is a matter for him and promises to "discharge my responsibilities on the subject" and "deal with it sensibly".
Former chancellor George Osborne had a tough time on Newsnight last night, as he was told his treatment of the poorest people in society was "despicable".
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